Himeji

HIMEJI CASTLE
http://gutereise09.blogspot.com/2008/10/visit-to-himeji-castle.html
Look at this site for a bit of info on getting around
You can have lunch in the restaurant in the koko-en garden
Tours: A free tour is available for English speaking visitors. This service is provided by an association of volunteer guides. But please note that reservations are not accepted for this service. Inquire when you purchase your admission tickets. Allow about 1 hour and a half for the tour. This tour will greatly increase your understanding and appreciation of Himeji Castle. You will learn more about the construction and history of the castle and about the people who have lived there.
With its start as a simple fort in 1333, the Himeji Castle evolved over the years under the guidance of various lords – the castle as it stands today was finally completed in 1609 and can be reached from Kyoto by train in a few hours. Plan a full day to visit the Himeji Castle, and keep in mind that the premises close at 4 pm (September - May) or 5 pm (June - August).
Called the ‘White Heron’ for its white plaster exterior, the castle is considered the best preserved in Japan, and is listed as a World Heritage site. It may look familiar if you saw Kurosawa’s 1985 film, Ran. The graceful curves of Himeji Castle is one of its distinctions, along with fish images on the roof known as Shachi-gawara, and the Osakabe Shinto Shrine at the top, where Japanese tourists pause to donate a few coins and say a prayer that ends with a swift 3 claps.
Originally located on the top of the hill where the castle was built, the shrine was moved during construction, and then returned to the site when the new location proved ‘unlucky’.
Next door to the castle, be sure to visit the Koko-en Garden, built in 1992 to celebrate Himeji’s 100th anniversary of municipality. Located where the castle’s samurai houses once existed, the Koko-en is comprised of 9 individual gardens designed in the style from the Edo period. There’s also a teahouse where visitors can partake in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
300yen
zip. 670-0012 68 Honmachi, Himeji, HyogoTEL (079)289-4120
9:00-17:00 (enter by 16:30 ; Sep. 1 - Apr. 26)
please enjoy strolling through Himeji "Koko-en", a garden full of history, nature and romance.
This garden, Himeji "Koko-en", was constructed in 1992 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Himeji municipality.Himeji "Koko-en" is composed of nine separate gardens, making use of the exact former site of where "Nishi-Oyashiki" (the lord's west residence) and other samurai houses once existed. The original location was confirmed through seven archeological excavations.Professor Makoto Nakamura of Kyoto University supervised the planning and designing of this garden.The name "Koko-en" is derived from "Koko-do" the name of Japan's sixth provincial school founded in 1692 in Himeji by the last Lord of Himeji, Sakai family.All of the nine separate gardens show the essence of the Edo period. The following are some of the many splendors which can be found here. Among attractions, "Oyasiki-no-niwa", the garden of the lord's house, comes first.Second , "Cha-no-niwa", the garden of tea, has an elaborate tea house, where you can enjoy an authentic tea ceremony. Next, several mud walls with roof tiles on were built as replicas of original walls located here.There is also a "Nagaya-Gate" which bestows upon viewers the historical feeling of the Edo period. In addition, from Nagare-no-hiraniwa you can enjoy excellent views of the main keep and the West Bailey of Himeji Castle. Finally strolling through the gardens, you can appreciate beautiful trees and flowers of four seasons, the rapids and waterfalls, and covered walkways built of Japanese cypress.You can feel history and see natural beauty in this garden. It is an impressive and scenic spot located just west of Himeji Castle.
TRANSPORTATION (Map)
Himeji Castle Koko-en bus stop from Himeji Station : 5 min. ride or 15min. walk
Kassui-Ken (restaurant)
You can have a cup of tea, a lunch box of anago, grilled conger which is the speciality of Himeji etc., while enjoying a beautiful view of the garden.
Souju-an (tea ceremony house)
This is an elaborate teahouse designed by the head of Ura-senke, Japan's main school of tea ceremony. This house was built to face Himeji Castle.
[Engyoji Temple on Mt. Shosha]
Engyoji Temple, once one of the three training centers of the Tendai sect, is nestled in a peaceful mountain and has many important cultural buildings and statues. Founded in A.D. 966 by Shoku, a holy Buddhist priest, the temple is noted as a pilgrimage site. Visitors can see the Maniden, the main building halfway up the mountain; the Daikodo, the great auditorium; the forty meters long Jikido, both a priests training center and a boarding house; and the Kaizando, supported by four statues made by Hidari Jingoro, a famous sculptor. Another must is the grave of Mikinosuke, an adopted son of Musashi Miyamoto.Admission: (Donation for maintaining the temple) ¥300(The service of Shoshazan Ropeway is 8:30 – 18:00 on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 19:00 on Sundays and holidays.The service can be changed according to seasons. The fare is ¥500 for one-way and ¥900 for a round trip. 4 minute tour.)Access:Take City Bus at JR Himeji Station bound for Shosha Ropeway and get off at the final destination. TEL:079-266-3327
To leave Himeji you could go straight to the airport the second option being the best timing or use the first if your bored and do a loop around Osaka on the train, or something
If you go very early to himeji you may want to leave just after lunch make sure you take the fast train the shinkansen, it only takes 30mins. I think there is only one platform at Himeji for the shinkansen and the trains leave every 10min maybe.
HIMEJI(15:51) KANSAI AIRPORT(17:34) ¥5750 1hour 43min 152.5 km
HIMEJI(17:23) KANSAI AIRPORT(19:06) ¥5750 1hour 43min 152.5 km
Himeji 17:23 (shinkansen Kodoma 754) to shinosaka 18:05
shinosaka 18:15 (Ltd Ex Haruka 49) to Kansai airport 19:06
If you decide to stop in at osaka there is a map below of the loop line I cant find out how long it takes but maybe an hour you might just want to do some of it to get to tennoji station where you can take the train to the airport.
Options leaving Osaka
Tenonji 17:36 Ltd Exp Haruka arrives Kansai Airport 16:19
Tennoji 18:02 Ltd Exp Haruka 47 arrives Kansai Airport 18:36

HIMEJI(15:51) KANSAI AIRPORT(17:34) ¥5750 1hour 43min 152.5 km
HIMEJI(17:23) KANSAI AIRPORT(19:06) ¥5750 1hour 43min 152.5 km